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Kerry Londoners uncertain following new UK restrictions

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UNCERTAINTY: Noel O'Sullivan, pictured with Pearse O'Reilly of Irish TV at the London GAA headquarters in Ruislip, says he has no idea when he will make it home for a visit to Killarney.

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By Sean Moriarty

 

Killarney people living in London say that they do not know when they will be able to get home to see family again - due to the new UK COVID restrictions.

The British Government announced a range of new and tighter restrictions this week in an effort to curb growing COVID-19 cases in the country.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that if Tuesday’s new restrictions were not successful the country could he heading for a second full lockdown.

Restrictions imposed on businesses and people to stop the spread of COVID-19 could be in place for six months without major progress in areas such as vaccine and treatment development, he said.

The news was a bitter blow to many Kerry people living in the UK capital.

Noel O’Sullivan, who is originally from Ballaugh just outside town, has been living and working in London for the last 48 years but, thanks to Ryanair and Kerry Airport, he was able to get home a few times a year.

His last visit was Christmas - and this has been the longest period he has not been back home in nearly 50 years.

“It is hard to imagine that we were reading about this virus in China in January and how it has completely changed the way we live,” he told the Killarney Advertiser.

A life-long GAA fan, he has been involved with St Kiernan’s Club in Hendon, north London for years.

The London County Championship only got underway two weeks ago and already new restrictions could prevent the planned ban on spectators being lifted early next month.

“It is very hard on the elderly who may not be savvy with mobile phones and the Internet,” he added. “Going out to the games was their only way of meeting people and getting the news from home.”

Mr O’Sullivan is well-known in Irish community organisations in London. He is a former London GAA County Board chairman, a long-serving committee member of the London Rose of Tralee Centre, the Kerry Association London, and The Killarney Reunion.

His work for all of these organisations, as well as family occasions, meant he was a frequent visitor over the years.

“I had planned to come for a month in August and that fell through,” he said. “As a family we had booked a week in October but that is cancelled now. When is it all going to end.”

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Noel O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship

Noel O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship

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O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship

Muckross co-driver Noel O’Sullivan is set for a busy season as he returns to the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) while also preparing for a record-breaking attempt on home soil.

O’Sullivan and driver Callum Devine have signed with the Swedish team JC Raceteknik for a full campaign focused on asphalt events. Their season begins this week at the Andalusia Rally – Sierra Morena in Spain. O’Sullivan remains the only Killarney-based co-driver competing at this level for a full season.
He brings significant international experience to the team, having previously worked with WRC driver Jon Armstrong during his early European outings. O’Sullivan and Devine recently proved their pace against top European crews with a fifth-place finish at the 2024 Rali Ceredigion in Wales.
Devine said:
“I’m really looking forward to coming back to the ERC. It’s always great for a driver to compete against Europe’s best on some iconic events. We’ve had great success back home in Ireland over the past few seasons, winning two Irish Tarmac Rally Championships, and we feel now is the right time to come back and take on some ERC events. Starting with Rally Sierra Morena, I’m delighted to be joining JC Raceteknik. I know they are a very professional team with a wealth of experience, and I’m looking forward to working closely with them.”
The European schedule will not interfere with O’Sullivan’s local plans. Following the rally in Spain, the pair will return to Kerry for the Rally of the Lakes over the May Bank Holiday weekend. They are aiming for a fifth consecutive victory in Killarney as they look to move back into the lead of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship.
The move to the European stage follows a successful week for O’Sullivan, who was recently named the International Motorsport winner at the Kerry Sports Star Awards.

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Classic Tour set to celebrate heritage roads in June

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Classic Tour set to celebrate heritage roads in June


A new heritage motoring event, the Killarney Classic Tour, has been confirmed for June 26–27, 2026. The two-day tour is designed to celebrate the iconic rally stages of Kerry and the Beara Peninsula.


Headquartered at the Gleneagle Hotel, the event is non-competitive and open to a wide range of vintage and historic cars. Organisers are placing a particular focus on period-correct rally cars and recreations that reflect the history of the Circuit of Ireland, the Circuit of Munster, and the early years of the Rally of the Lakes.
The tour is the work of two well-known figures in Irish rallying, Mike Marshall and Micheal O’Mahoney. Marshall, a founding member of the Rally of the Lakes and Clerk of the Course for over 20 years, has designed a route that allows drivers to experience famous stages like Moll’s Gap at a relaxed pace. O’Mahoney, a long-term supporter of the sport through Rentokil and a historic car owner himself, joins Marshall in the venture.

Co-Founder O’Mahoney said:
“This event is about bringing people back together – the cars, the stories, and the friendships that have always been part of rallying. It’s a chance to step away from competition and simply enjoy these roads.”



The Saturday itinerary includes a lunch stop in Castletownbere before the field returns to Killarney for a gala dinner at the Gleneagle Hotel. The evening will feature guest speakers and a focus on the shared history of the sport.
“This event is about bringing people back together — the cars, the stories, and the friendships,” added Micheal O’Mahoney.
Registrations are now open at www.KillarneyClassicTour.ie.

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